We have a free line between each of us and God with Jesus as our advocate
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus; 1 Timothy 2:5
If we get in the way of that, we can clog it
We may become dull of hearing His word
We may become stagnant
We might be thinking lofty thoughts
We might have unforgiveness in our heart
There are all sorts of ways to clog the communication line
Any type of sin can clog that communication line
Make us unable to clearly hear His voice
We can find ourselves ignoring His word,
like not caring about the widow and the orphan
or loving money
or listening to the world’s ideas instead of His word
If your prayers are not answered very quickly, or maybe not at all
It can feel like Jesus doesn’t hear us at times
Our relationship with God is reciprocal
If you’re not sure about that, just look in the Old Testament
Many of the prophets told of how the Israelites refused God’s commands
It did not go well with them when they did not follow God and His ways closely
The same things happened in the New Testament
Jesus told us several commands about love, about loving God and loving others
Anytime we choose to refuse His word or His instruction, we offend God
Some people even fell away, like Solomon, like King Saul
Some even backslid like Samson and then returned to God
Some were always faithful like the prophets and some of the Kings, like Josiah
Jesus encouraged us all to seek His strength and to love the the truth
Jesus is the truth
Do not allow yourself to be deceived by dishonoring the truth of His word
The choices we make become our reality
Deception creeps in
That starts by a choice not to love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)
You can love the truth without liking it
That is, you can choose to love God’s word above all your thoughts
You can submit to it without liking it, but realizing that God knows best
God does what He does
God says what He says
I have never found God to say anywhere in His word
‘Oh, sorry I hurt your feelings, what I really meant was this…’
Our Father knows best
He does not change
He does not backtrack
Sometimes his mercy triumphs over judgment
Yes, He shows mercy and that mercy is without end
Be careful not to take His mercy for granted
Mercy is not a right
It does not belong to any of us
Mercy belongs to God to do with as He pleases
For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Romans 9:15
Do not demand mercy from God
Be faithful to show others the mercy He has given you
Jesus will also show you mercy
As it says in His word:
Blessed are the Merciful for they shall obtain Mercy. Matthew 5:7
When you see others suffer and are delighted in your heart,
This is not showing mercy
Keep your heart clean,
thus you will keep the communication between you and God clear as well
Don’t hide your sin from Him (Genesis 3:8)
Let Him continue to cleanse you as His Holy Spirit brings things to mind
Jesus is disciplining us often so that we may remain close to Him
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord;
neither be weary of His correction:
For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth;
even as a father the son in whom He delighteth. Proverbs 3:11-12